Palletized shipping container



19,1954 M. c. KOESTER PALLETIZED SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed llarch 9, 1950 ll 1 a 1 V 1 v Zinnentor 6 (lttornega Q My Patented Oct. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PALLETIZED SHIPPING CONTAINER Melvin G. Koester, Toledo, Ohio, assigncr to Libbey- OWenS-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 9, 1950, Serial No. 148,627

'7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates broadly to materials handling devices and more particularly to a palletized shipping container for the storage and transportation of articles.

An important object of this invention is to provide an expendable relatively inexpensive shipping container that is capable of receiving and transporting a comparatively large number of sheets of glass or like material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a palletized shipping container which is readily transportable from one location to another by the customary fork lift truck and which may be vertically stacked one upon the other to conserve storage space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a palletized shipping container of light though durable construction in which adequate protection is afforded the sheets of glass or like material packed therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a palletized shipping container which is capable of complete prefabrication and which is composed of a minimum number of parts that may be readily and quickly assembled at the situs of the loading operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a palletized shipping container including novel means for bracing the side and end sections of said container, and lining material on said sections whereby a relatively lightweight adequately protective shipping container is produced.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are e1nployed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a completed palletized shipping container constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof with the top and one side wall positioned as during assembly;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal detail of a corner of the shipping container taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a preferred form of the invention, wherein is provided a rectangular palletized shipping container des ignated in its entirety by the numeral 5 and comprising a pallet type bottom 6, end panel sections i and 8, side panel sections 9 and I0, and a top or lid H.

The pallet type bottom 6, which constitutes the floor or base of the shipping container 5, is composed of three pairs of longitudinally extending parallel skids I2 and stringers i3. Arranged between and secured to the skids and stringers are spacer blocks M which are disposed at opposite ends of the bottom and also intermediate the ends thereof. Running transversely to the stringers l3 and secured thereupon to constitute the deck of the pallet bottom are the floor planks [5.

The two end floor planks [6 are set slightly inwardly of the opposite ends of the stringers i 3 to provide relatively narrow ledges upon which the end panel sections 1 and 8 are supported. In other words, the positioning of the floor planks l6 inwardly of the ends of the stringers l3 results in the provision of so-called notched or recessed portions for receiving the end panel sections therein, the outer surfaces of said sections being flush with the end edges of the stringers.

The end panel sections I and 8 each comprise top and bottom horizontal members It and i9 respectively and vertical end members 29 and 25 joined together by cleats or the like 22. If desired, suitable vertical braces 23 may be provided between the'end members 2!! and 2 Mounted upon the inner surfaces of each end panel section T and 8 along the opposite ends thereof are vertical guide rails 24. As will be seen in Fig. 2, when the end panel sections are placed in position, they are sup ported at their lower edges upon the projecting ends of the stringers l3 and secured thereto by cleats or the like l'l, while the guide rails 2d rest upon the end floor planks it.

Each side panel section 9 and i0 is composed of horizontal top and bottom members 25 and 26 respectively and vertical end members 21 and 28 secured to each other by cleats or the like 29. These members may be suitably braced by longitudinal and transverse braces 30. When placed in position, the side panel sections are disposed inwardly of the vertical guide rails 24 and are supported at their lower edges upon the floor planks I5 and I6, said planks constituting the deck of the pallet bottom.

Carried upon the inner surfaces of both the end panel sections 7 and 8 and side panel sections 9 and ill is a suitable lining material 3! which may be either of cardboard, paperboard, fiberboard, or like material and which serves to close the side and end walls of the container. The lining material 3| may be secured to the side and end panel sections by nails, staples, and/or glue and provides a protective cushion for the sheets oi glass to minimize chipping and breaking thereof.

ihe top or lid H is composed of longitudinal side members 32 and 33 and transverse end members 34 and 35 suitably secured to one another by cleats or the like 35, and braced if desired by longitudinal and transverse members 31. Secured to the underside of the top is a sheet of suitable lining material 38 which may be of cardboard, paperboard, fiberboard, or the like. Also secured to the underside of the top are longitudinally extending braces 3b, which are relatively shorter than the top so that when the top is placed in position upon the upper edges of the side and end panel sections, the ends of the braces will engage the inner surfaces or the top members l8 of the end panel sections 5 and 8 to assist in locating the top and preventing undesirable endwise movement thereof. If preferred, the longitudinal. braces. may also be so positioned that they engage the inner surfaces ofv the top members 25 of the side panel sections 9- and m.

Encompassing the. length. and breadth of the shipping container 5 are metal straps 4'10 and M respectively, and applied to the shipping container under and over alternate corners thereof are semi-longitudinal cries-cross straps @2' and 63, thereby firmly securing the several parts of the container together and serving to brace the entire container against any longitudinal or transverse force of a direct or twisting character.

In order to expedite the assembly and subsequent loading of the container, it is. desirable that all component parts of the container, including the pallet type bottom, side and end panel sections and lid, be prefabricated before being brought to the situs of the assembly and loading operation. In then assembling the container, the end panel sections! and 8 are first positioned in the recessed portions created by the location of the end floor planks l6- slightly inwardly from the ends of the pallet type bottom 6 as. described above. The end panel sections are then secured to the stringers l3 and end floor planks H3 at each corner by the cleats or the like ll, best shown in Fig. 2.

With the end panel sections 1 and 8 thus braced against the end floor planks l6, and with the guide rails 2% attached to the inner surfaces of the end panel sections '1 and 8 and parallel to the end vertical members 2'8 and 2}, the side panel section 9 is lowered into position and secured to the end panel sections I and 8 by suitable cleats M. The guide rails 24 have'the important function of not only serving as. a guide for the proper positioning of the side panel sec tions 9 and It, but also prevent outward movement by said side panel sections and thereby brace the packaged articles after they have been loaded into the palletized shipping container 5. As may be seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the guide rails 24 rest upon and are perpendicular to the end floor planks l5.

' As the palletized shipping container 5 is thus far assembled, sheets of glass or like material, packaged in a manner known to those skilled in the trade, are placed in an upright position perpendicular to the deck formed by the floor planks l5 and parallel to the side panel section 9.

With the articles to be packaged properly in position, the other side panel section It] is lowered into place inwardly of the guide rails 24 and secured to the top horizontal side members 4 E8 of the end panel sections 1 and 8 by suitable cleats 44..

The next step in the assembly of the container is the positioning of the top M. It is to be particularly noted in this operation that the ends of the longitudinal bracing members 39, located on the under surface of the: top H, engage the inner surfaces of the top horizontal members it of the end panel sections 7 and 3, thereby furnishing a substantial amount of bracing support to the palletized shipping container 5, especially the upper region thereof. This abutting relationship may be seen in Fig. 3 wherein numeral 39 designates a longitudinal bracing member positioned against a top horizontal end member S8. It may thus be seen that the palletized shipping; container 5 is of rigid construction. Not 1 only is a substantial foundation afiorded by the use of a pallet type bottom 6, but outward movement by the side panel sections 8 and Ii) is precluded by the guide rails: 24 inward movement of said sections by the packaged articles. them? selves; and inward movement. of. the end. panel; sections 1 and 8 is. substantially elimmatedby the side panel sections 9 and it against theend panel sections. and longitudinai bracing mom bers' 3-9.

To further strengthen this relatively light enpendable container, metal strapping is applied as: illustrated in Fig. i. Initially, two transverse straps. 40 are tensioned about the breadth. of the container after which longitudinal straps t. are then applied about the length of the: container and tensioned. shipping container 5 and to prevent damage tothe packaged articles by a twisting, force, semilongitudinal criss-oross straps t2: and as are applied. as shown in 1. Each strap 4.2. and. 4'3 is alternately tensioned under the corners, of the outer stringers l3 and over the diagonallyopposite corner of the shipping container so that ultimately each end and side section is individ-- ually braced and bracedeach to the other. Experience has shown that in the use of a ligh weight shipping container such as is the subject of this invention additional strapping to the longitudinal and transverse straps at. and M is preferred in order to prevent breakage.- resulting from a twisting of the entire shipping container,v as by a sudden drop on one of the corners of the container. The use of round wire strapping as. shown in Fig. 1 is preferred becaus of the small corner area available for the positioning of the strapping. Conceivably however, strapping of v the fiat metal band type couid be utilized in a satisfactory manner.

As noted above, the pallet. bottom 6 comprises longitudinally extending skids l2 and stringers l3 with blocks l4 interposed therebetween at opposite ends of the pallet bottom and also in termediate the ends thereof. This particular arrangement of the blocks permits the entry of the forks of a lift truck into the spaces provided between the skids and stringers from four directions, that is, from the sides and ends of the pallet bottom. In addition to providing a floor or base for the shipping container, the pallet bottom braces the end panel sections, furnishes a substantial foundation for a comparatively large number of sheets of glass or like materia and permits expeditious movement. of the packaged articles by a fork lift truck to. and from areas heretofore inaccessible with normal materials handling devices.

In a. modified form of the present inventionv To further brace the palletized' constituting a returnable type palletized shipping container, the lining material is eliminated and lumber of greater dimensions utilized throughout. All other features of the preferred embodiment of the invention are incorporated in the modified form, the latter being designed for the shipment of heavier quantities of glass than could be adequately protected and shipped in the expendable type palletized shipping container.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as the preferred embodiments of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

. 1. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom comprising independent longitudinally extending members, a deck carried upon said longitudinally extending members and a plurality of independent spacer members attached to the underside of each of the said 1ongitudinally extending members, said spacer members being disposed at opposite ends and also intermediate the ends of said longitudinal members to permit entry of lift forks beneath said deck, the opposite ends of said deck terminating inwardly of the ends of the longitudinally extending members to define ledges, end sections supported upon said ledges on said longitudinal members and. abutting the ends of said deck, side sections supported upon the deck between the end sections, and a top disposed upon said end and side sections.

2. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom comprising independent longitudinally extending members, a deck carried upon said longitudinally extending members and a plurality of independent spacer members attached to the underside of each of the said longitudinally extending members, said spacer members being disposed at opposite ends and also intermediate the ends of said longitudinal members to permit entry of lift forks beneath the deck, the opposite ends of said deck terminating inwardly of the ends of the longitudinally extending members to define ledges, end sections supported upon said ledges on said longitudinal members and abutting the ends of said deck, guide rails attached to the inner surfaces of said end sections and engaging the upper surface of the deck, side sections supported upon the deck between the end sections inwardly of said guide rails, a top disposed upon said end and side sections, and means carried upon the underside of the top and engaging the inner surfaces of the end sections when the top is in position.

3. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom comprising vertically spaced longitudinally extending substantially parallel independent end and center skids and stringers, independent spacer members disposed between said skids and stringers at opposite ends and also intermediate the ends thereof to permit entry of lift forks beneath said stringers, a deck carried by the stringers and supported through its midsection by the stringers, the opposite ends of said deck terminating inwardly of the ends of the longitudinally extending stringers to define recessed portions, end sections supported upon said stringers and having the lower portions thereof received in said recessed portions, side sections supported upon the deck between the 6.. end sections, and a top disposed upon said end and side sections.

4. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom comprising vertically spaced independent longitudinally extending substantially parallel end and intermediate skids and stringers, independent spacer members disposed between said skids and stringers at opposite ends and also intermediate the ends thereof to permit entry of lift forks beneath said stringers, a deck carried by the end and intermediate stringers, the opposite ends of said deck terminating inwardly of the ends of the longitudinally extending stringers to define recessed portions, end sections supported upon said stringers and having the lower portions thereof received in said recessed portions, guide rails attached to the inner surfaces of said end sections and engaging the upper surface of the deck, side sections supported upon the deck between the end sections inwardly of said guide rails, a top disposed upon said end and side sections, and means carried upon the underside of the top and engaging the inner surfaces of the end sections when the top is in position.

5. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom comprising vertically spaced substantially parallel longitudinally extending independent end and intermediate skids and stringers, independent spacer members disposed between said skids and stringers at opposite ends and also intermediate the ends thereof to permit entry of lift forks beneath said stringers, a deck carried by the stringers and supported through its midsection by the stringers, the opposite ends of said deck terminating inwardly of the ends of the longitudinally extending stringers to define recessed portions, end sections supported upon said stringers and having the lower portions thereof received in said recessed portions, guide rails attached to the inner surfaces of said end sections and engaging the upper surface of the deck, side sections supported upon the deck between the end sections inwardly of said guide rails, a top disposed upon said end and side sections, means carried upon the underside of the top and engaging the inner surfaces of the end sections when the top is in position, and lining material applied to the surfaces of the end and side sections and top.

6. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom comprising vertically spaced substantially parallel extending end and center skids and stringers, independent spacer members disposed between said skids and stringers at opposite ends and also intermediate the ends thereof to permit entry of lift forks beneath said stringers, a deck carried by the end and center stringers, the opposite ends of said deck terminating inward y of the ends of the longitudinally extending stringers to define recessed portions, end sections supported upon said stringers and having the lower portions thereof received in said recessed portions, guide rails attached to the inner surfaces of said end sections and engaging the upper surface of the deck, side sections supported upon the deck between the end sections inwardly of said guide rails, a top disposed upon said end and side sections, means carried upon the underside of the top and engaging the inner surfaces of the end sections when the top is in position, lining material applied to the inner surfaces of the end and side sections and top, and flexible retaining members tying the bottom, end and side'sections and top together.

7. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom comprising longitudinally extending independent edge and center skids, longitudinally extending stringers spaced above said skids, independent spacer members disposed vertically between said skids and stringers at opposite ends and also intermediate the ends thereof to define openings for the entry of lift forks beneath said stringers, a deck carried above the stringers and comprising laterally extending floor planks supported by said end and center stringers and secured to and crossing said stringers, the opposite end planks terminating 15 inwardly of the ends of the stringers to define recessed portions, end sections supported upon said stringers and having the lower portions thereof received in said recessed portions, side sections supported upon the deck between the end sec- 8, tions, and a top disposed upon said end and side sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,884,062 McSweeney Oct. 25, 1932 2,065,050 Butler Dec. 22, 1936 2,420,640 Acteson May 20, 194 2,468,026 Boone Apr. 26, 1949 2,507,693 Collier May 16, 1950 2,520,277 Foord Aug. 29, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 613,985 France Sept. 8, 1926 357,215 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1931 726,668 France Mar. 8, 1932 891,139 France Nov. 29, 1943 

